Gravity feed dispenser

ABSTRACT

A gravity feed dispenser for dispensing bulk products from an exchangeable container with a tearable bottom portion. The gravity feed dispenser comprises a stationary holder comprising a seat portion arranged to receive at least a lower portion of the exchangeable container, an outlet opening for dispensing the bulk product and a valve arrangement which is arranged operatively between the seat portion and the outlet opening, for selectively allowing and preventing outward flow of the bulk product from the exchangeable container through the outlet opening. The seat portion comprises essentially vertically arranged opposed side wall portions, a rear wall portion and a front wall portion arranged to receive at least a lower portion of the exchangeable container when inserted from above. The front wall portion of the seat portion exhibits a slit configured to allow removal of said tearable bottom portion of the exchangeable container through the slit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No.18212963.5, filed on Dec. 17, 2018. The disclosure of the aboveapplication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a gravity feed dispenser for bulk materialproducts. Within the food retail industry, such dispensers are oftenreferred to as gravity bins. The invention also relates to a stationaryholder forming part of the gravity feed dispenser.

BACKGROUND

Bulk material goods or products (hereinafter bulk products), such asgrain, coffee, tea, nuts, spices, candy etc. are often sold by theweight in supermarkets and commodity stores. By this means, thecustomers are allowed to freely choose the desired quantity to purchase.There exist several different types of containers for storing,displaying and providing such bulk products to the customers in thestores.

One type is the so called scoop bins, at which the customers gain accessto the bulk product via an openable lid and use a scoop to manuallyshovel goods from the container to a pouch, a bag, a jar or the like,which is brought to the check-out counter for weighing and paying.However, scoop bins entail certain disadvantages and problems. Since theoutlet lid is openable, the bulk product stored in the container isexposed to contaminations from the surrounding atmosphere and from thecustomers. Additionally, the use of a scoop for manually transferringthe goods from the scoop bin to customer's receptacle may causeconsiderable spillage, waste and littering in the store.

Another type of container for storing, displaying and providing bulkproducts is the so called gravity feed dispensers. These devicesnormally comprise a vertically oriented container having an upperclosable inlet for filling and refilling and a lower outlet providedwith a manually operable valve. The container is thus filled andrefilled by store personnel having access to the upper inlet opening.Gravity acts on the bulk product stored in the container and urges ittoward the lower outlet opening. The customer holds a bag, a pouch orother receptacle under the outlet and manually opens the valve, wherebythe desired amount of the bulk product is poured by gravity into thecustomer's receptacle. At this type, the risk of contamination isgreatly reduced since the bulk product stored in the container is notexposed to the surrounding atmosphere and since the outlet valveprevents the customers from getting access to the interior of thecontainer. Additionally, pouring of the bulk product into a receptacleheld beneath the outlet reduces the risk of spillage and the problemsrelated thereto.

Gravity feed dispensers for storing, displaying and providing bulkproducts should preferably exhibit some important qualities. Especiallywhen they are used for storing foodstuff, the hygienic aspect isimportant. Therefore it is desirable to minimize the exposure of theproduct to the surrounding atmosphere. It is also important thatrefilling of the dispenser can be carried out quickly and easily. Afurther important aspect is that it is easy to wash and keep theinterior of the dispenser and other parts making contact with the bulkproduct clean. It should thus preferably be easy for maintenancepersonnel to disassemble and get access to the interior of thedispenser. For the same reason it is important that the containerexhibits a minimum of cavities, recesses or slits in which the bulkproduct or dust thereof may be caught. For economical reasons it isbeneficial if the dispenser comprise a low number of constituentcomponents and is easy to disassemble and reassemble. Also from amanufacturing point of view and for ascertain reliability and longservice life, it is advantageous when the container comprises only a fewconstituent parts.

PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,744 discloses a device for measuring and dispensinggranular material, which device comprises a body member which defines ahopper with a discharge opening and a discharge port disposed below thedischarge opening. A dispensing cylinder is rotably mounted in the body,between the discharge opening and port. The body also includes aremovable top cover and a removable front cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,123 B1 discloses a bulk food dispensing apparatuscomprising a bin exhibiting an upper opening for loading a bulk productand a lower opening. A rotating door which is operable by a handle isarranged at the lower opening for allowing the bulk product stored inthe bin to flow under the force of gravity out through the loweropening. According to this document, the bin comprises a left side pieceand a right side piece which are interconnected along a rear side andthereby form a first cavity. A front piece is connected to the left andright side pieces for securing these together and for defining a secondcavity in front of the first cavity.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,864 B1 discloses a similar apparatus wherein theleft and right side pieces are hingedly connected and secured by a frontpiece.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,024 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,157 B2 disclosefurther examples of gravity feed dispensers comprising a containerformed of two interconnected side pieces and a manually rotable gate ordoor for selectively blocking and allowing flow of a bulk product storedin the container through an discharge opening.

SE532075C2 discloses a method of hygienic handling of bulk products atwhich the bulk product is filled into a distribution bag whichthereafter is laced-up by means of a string. The bag is transported fromthe factory to the end customer. After transportation, the bag is placedin a hopper of a dispensing unit, with the laced-up end down and the bagis opened by pulling the string. This document also discloses a devicefor such handling which device comprises a dispensing unit and adistribution bag.

GB2049625A discloses an apparatus for storing and apportioning powderedor granular material. The apparatus comprises a holder for a package andan apportioning device. The package comprises a strip-like sealingclosure with a strip flap for opening the package when placed in theholder.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to provide an enhanced gravity feeddispenser for bulk products.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser which, in use, minimizesthe exposure of the bulk product to the surroundings atmosphere.

A further object is to provide such a dispenser which facilitatestransportation of the bulk product and refilling of the dispenser.

Yet another object is to provide such a dispenser which reduces the riskof spillage at refilling the dispenser.

Still another object is to provide such a dispenser which is easy towash and clean.

A further object is to provide such a dispenser which comprises only alow number of constituent parts.

Yet another object is to provide such a dispenser which may easily bedisassembled and reassembled by maintenance personnel.

A still further object is to provide such a dispenser which is reliablein use and has a long service life.

A further object is to provide such a dispenser which alleviates theneed to dismount and remove the dispenser from its normal operatingposition in a rack or the like, for allowing cleaning of the interior.

According to a first aspect, these and other objects are achieved by agravity feed dispenser according to claim 1. The gravity feed dispenseris intended for use with an exchangeable container with a tearablebottom portion which container holds a bulk product. The gravity feeddispenser comprises a stationary holder comprising a seat portionarranged to receive at least a lower portion of the exchangeablecontainer, an outlet opening for dispensing the bulk product and a valvearrangement which is arranged operatively between the seat portion andthe outlet opening, for selectively allowing and preventing outward flowof the bulk product from the exchangeable container through the outletopening. The seat portion comprises essentially vertically arrangedopposed side wall portions, a rear wall portion and a front wall portionarranged to receive at least a lower portion of the exchangeablecontainer when inserted from above. The front wall portion of the seatportion exhibits a slit configured to allow removal of said tearablebottom portion of the exchangeable container through the slit.

By providing the gravity feed dispenser with a stationary holder forsuch an exchangeable container containing the bulk product, a number ofadvantages are achieved. The bulk product contained in the exchangeablecontainer may efficiently be transported from the supplier to the shopor other location where the bulk product is to be dispensed. Transportand handling of the product may also be carried out without the risk ofcontaminating the product. Additionally, at refilling of the gravityfeed dispenser, the entire exchangeable container may readily be mountedto the holder and kept there until the entire content has beendispensed. This greatly facilitates handling of the product since italleviates the need of scoping, pouring and other means of transferringthe product from a separate transport container to a hopper or the likeof the gravity feed dispenser. By this means, spillage and contaminationof the bulk product during refilling is also eliminated. The use of anexchangeable container with a gravity feed dispenser thus enhances theefficiency and the hygienic aspects of all handling of the bulk productfrom the manufacturer of the product to the end customer.

The seat portion arranged at the upper part of the stationary holderallows for very easy mounting and removal of the exchangeable container.The side, rear and front wall portions forming part of the seat portionfurther enhances reliable fixation of the exchangeable container whenmounted to the stationary holder. To this end, the distances between thewall portions of the seat portion may be chosen such that theexchangeable container is received in the seat portion with a tight fit.The slit arranged in the front wall portion of the seat portion allowsfor that the tearable bottom portion may readily be removed from theexchangeable container for opening of the container, after full mountingthe container to the holder. By this means exposure of the bulk productto the surrounding atmosphere is prevented or at least minimized.

The stationary holder may comprise a removable lid which, when mountedto the holder, closes the slit. By this means dust and othercontaminations is prevented from coming into contact with the bulkmaterial in the dispenser also when the container has been opened andthe bottom portion removed.

The lid may be formed as a label holder. By this means information aboutthe bulk product such as content and price may readily be displayed tothe customers.

The lid and/or the stationary holder may be provided with sealing means.By this means ingression of foreign matter into the bulk product isfurther reduced.

The lid and the stationary holder may be provided with cooperatingsnap-fit means for snap-fit mounting of the lid to the stationaryholder. Hereby mounting and dismounting the lid is facilitated.

The stationary holder may comprise a lower chute portion for conductingthe outflow of the bulk product.

The holder may comprise a body member and a front piece, which bodymember is formed in one single piece and comprises two opposing sidewalls, a rear wall and a forwardly sloping bottom wall and which frontpiece is removably attached to the body member and comprises a frontwall. By this means the holder may easily be opened for allowing washingand cleaning by simply removing a single component.

The valve arrangement may comprise a pivotal valve member and amaneuvering handle. This allows for easy and reliable operation of thevalve for dispensing the bulk product.

The handle may be connected to the valve member by two axles which arepivotally received in semi circular openings formed in the body memberand the front piece. This facilitates disassembling and reassembling ofthe holder, e.g. at washing, cleaning and other maintenance operations.

The gravity feed dispenser may further comprise an exchangeablecontainer with a tearable bottom portion for storing a bulk product.

The dimensions of a horizontal cross section of the exchangeablecontainer and the corresponding distances between the wall portions ofthe stationary holder may be chosen such that the container is receivedwith a tight fit in the seat portion. Hereby the container is securelyfixed to the stationary holder when mounted.

The tearable portion may be arranged at a bottom wall of the containerwhen the container is held by the stationary holder. By this means thebulk product will automatically be fed by gravity to the valve of thedispenser.

The holder and the container may be arranged for allowing the tearableportion to be removed from the container when it is held by the holder.This efficiently eliminates the risk of spillage of the bulk productduring refilling.

The tearable portion may extend onto a front wall of the container. Bythis means access to the tearable portion is enhanced and opening of thecontainer is facilitated.

The tearable portion may be delimited by a first tear line in thecontainer. This facilitates tearing of the tearable portion. The tearline may be constituted by or comprise a perforation line or any otherkind of line of weakness.

The exchangeable container may comprise a cardboard box. Such boxes arecomparatively affordable and also advantageous from an environmentalpoint of view. In addition they are comparatively light in weight andeasy to handle also since they may be made stackable.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description of embodiments and from the appended claims.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted accordingto their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitlydefined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the element,apparatus, component, means, step, etc.” are to be interpreted openly asreferring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component,means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of anymethod disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact orderdisclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gravity feed dispenser according to anexemplifying embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view of a stationary holder comprisedin the gravity feeder shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2b is a section throughthe holder shown in FIG. 2 a.

FIG. 3a is a perspective view obliquely from above of an exchangeablecontainer comprised in the gravity feed dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 3b is a perspective view obliquely from below of the container shown inFIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 is perspective view obliquely from below of the container shownin FIGS. 3a-b illustrating a step in preparing it for final opening.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the gravity feed dispenser shown inFIG. 1 illustrating a step of introduction of the container into theholder and FIG. 5b is a section illustrating the same step ofintroduction.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of the gravity feed dispenser shown inFIG. 1 and illustrating the container fully inserted into the holder.FIG. 6b is a section of FIG. 6 a.

FIG. 7a is a perspective view of the gravity feed dispenser shown inFIG. 1 illustrating a final stage of opening the container and FIG. 7bis a section illustrating the same step of opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments ofthe invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided byway of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete,and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in theart. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

At the embodiment of the gravity feed dispenser shown in FIG. 1 itcomprises a stationary holder 10 and an exchangeable container 70 forstoring a bulk product, which container is constituted by a carton box.The holder 10 comprises a lower outlet opening 14 for dispensing aselectable amount of the bulk product into a bag or other receptacle(not shown) positioned under the outlet opening.

As best seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b , the holder 10 further comprises twomajor components 20, 30 which, when assembled, define an interior space16 for receiving a lower portion of the container 70 and bulk material(not shown) delivered from the container. One of these major componentsis constituted by a body member 20, preferably formed as an integralsingle piece of material. In the shown example, the body member 20 hasbeen formed by injection moulding of a durable transparent plasticmaterial. However, other methods and materials for forming the one piecebody member may also be used. The other major component is constitutedby a front piece 30 which is releasably mounted to the front portion ofthe body member 20. In the shown embodiment also the front piece 30 isformed by injection moulding of a durable transparent plastic materialbut other methods and materials may be used.

At a not shown alternative embodiment, the body member may comprise twoor more separate pieces which are attached together when assembling theholder. It may for example comprise two mirror symmetrical half pieceswhich are mutually snap-fitted or interconnected by other means forforming the body member.

The body member 20 comprises two first vertical sidewalls 21, 22 whichare arranged mutually in parallel. A second vertical sidewall 23 forms arear wall and extends between upper rear edge portions of the firstsidewalls. A bottom wall 24 extends between the lower edge of the rearwall 23 and the lower edges of the two first sidewalls 21, 22. Thebottom wall 24 slopes downwards in the forward direction from the rearwall 23 such that the bulk product received in the holder 10 is urged bygravity toward the lower front portion of the holder, where the outletopening 14 is arranged. At the front lower portion of the body member20, respective portions of the first sidewalls 21, 22 and the bottomwall 24 are arranged to form a downwardly directed first chute portion25 having a generally U-shaped cross section. By this means the bodymember 20 exhibits a completely open front 26 which extends over theentire height of the body member 20. A number of mounting protrusions 21b, 22 b are arranged laterally protruding at the rear portion of eachfirst side wall 21, 22. These protrusions are arranged for mounting thegravity feed dispenser to a rack or stand (not shown) in a manner whichis known per se. Normally, the stand is arranged for receiving aplurality of gravity feed dispensers side by side in rows and columns.The body member 20 further comprises two support flanges 28 a, 28 bwhich extend horizontally along the interior side of the first sidewalls 21, 22. These support flanges 28 a, 28 b form part of a seatportion 17 arranged for supporting the container 70 when inserted in theholder 10. The front piece 30 comprises a front wall 33 whichconstitutes a third side wall of the holder 10 when the front piece hasbeen mounted to the body member 20. A first side wall portion 31, 32extends rearwardly from respective lateral edges of the front wall 33.The rear edges of the first side wall portions 31, 32 are essentiallyequally long, in the vertical direction, as the front edges of the firstside walls 21, 22 and provided with rearwardly open grooves (not shown)which receives respective front edges of the first side walls 21, 23 forsecure mounting of the front piece 30 to the body 20. At the lowerportion of the front piece 30 the front wall 33 and the two first sidewall portions 31, 32 form a downwardly directed second chute portion 35having a generally U-shaped cross section which corresponds to the crosssection of the first chute portion 25. When the front piece 30 ismounted to the body 20, the first 25 and second 35 chute portionstogether define a tubular chute which is arranged to guide and conductthe bulk product towards the outlet opening 12.

The front piece 30 further exhibits an opening in the form of a troughpenetrating horizontal slit 36 which is arranged to facilitate openingof the container 70 by allowing a tear portion 74 of the container to beremoved through the slit 36. This will be explained more in detailbelow. A lid 37 (see FIG. 1) may be snap-fitted onto the front wall 33of the front piece 30. When mounted, the lid 37 closes the slit 36 andprevents foreign material from entering into the open space 16 of theholder 10. At some applications the lid 37 or the front piece 30 may beprovided with sealing means further reducing the influence of thesurrounding atmosphere to the bulk product contained in the gravity feeddispenser. In the shown example the lid 37 is formed and functions as alabel holder for holding a label (not shown) with information about thebulk product.

The support flanges 28 a, 28 b and upper wall portions 21 c, 22 c, 23 c,33 c arranged above the support flanges 28 a, 28 b of the respectivewalls 21, 22, 23, 33 form a seat portion 17 of the holder 10 forreceiving and securely holding a lower portion of the container 70.

The gravity feed dispenser further comprises a valve arrangement 40 forselectively allowing and preventing flow of the bulk product from theinterior space 16 through the outlet opening 14. The valve arrangement40 comprises a valve seat member 41, a pivotal valve member 42 and aflexible sealing 43. The valve seat member 41 exhibits a valve opening44 and a partition wall 45 which is arranged in the interior space 16 ofthe of the holder 10, such that the effective outflow area is reduced tothe dimensions of the valve opening 44. The valve seat member 41 isattached to the body member 20 by snap-fit means (not shown) arranged atthe first side walls 21, 22 and the lateral sides of the valve seatmember 41.

In the shown example, the valve seat member 41 is formed by injectionmoulding a plastic material and the sealing 43 is formed by injectionmoulding of a resilient material, such as a rubber material. Othermethods and materials may be used as long as the sealing is formed offlexible and resilient material which remains in sealing contact withthe pivotal valve member 42 during its pivotal movement. The sealing 43comprises a base (not denoted) exhibiting a fixation channel 43 a andtwo sealing lips 43 b which extend in parallel from the base at the sidebeing opposite to the fixation channel 43 a. The sealing 43 may bemounted to and dismounted from the valve seat member 41 when the valveseat member 41 is dismounted from the body 20. The sealing 43 is mountedto the valve seat body 41 by resilient formfitting of the fixationchannel 43 a around a valve seat bar (not shown) which delimits thevalve opening 44. When the sealing 43 has been mounted to the valve seatmember 41, these two components may be jointly snap-fit fixed to thebody 20 by engaging the snap-fit means (not shown) of the valve seatbody into corresponding snap-fit means (not shown) of the body 20.

The pivotal valve member 42 exhibits an arced valve wall 42 a, withwhich the flexible sealing lips 43 b makes sealing contact. A valvebracket 42 b connects each lateral side of the valve wall 42 a to arespective axle 47, which axles are axially aligned and define thepivotal axis for the pivotal valve member 42 and the valve wall 42 a.The axles 47 are in turn fixed to an operating handle 46 by means ofwhich the valve member 42 and the valve wall 42 a may be manuallypivoted about its pivotal axis.

When mounted to the holder 10, each shaft 47 is received in respectivesemi circular recesses 27 formed in the opposing and engaging edges ofthe first side walls 21, 22 and the first side wall portions 31, 32. Bythis means the valve member 42 and the handle 46 are together pivotallyjournaled to the holder when the front piece 30 is mounted to the bodymember 20. The valve member 42, the shafts 47 and the handle 46 togetherform a valve shutter 50 which may be mounted to and dismounted from thecontainer 10 as a single component. In the preferred embodiment shown,the valve shutter 50 is formed as a single integral piece of material,e.g. by injection moulding of a plastic material. However, other methodsand materials for forming the valve shutter 50 are also possible.

The sealing 43 comprises two sealing lips that resiliently follow thesurface of the valve member 42 during its pivotal movement. By thismeans also fine particles, such as powder and dust are prevented fromexiting the container when the valve member is in its closed position.

The valve arrangement 40 also comprises a biasing means (not shown) forurging the valve member 42 and the handle 46 to its closed position whenno opening force is applied to the handle. These means comprises anelastic string arranged at each lateral side of the valve shutter 50.

The valve arrangement 40 further comprises means for adjusting itseffective maximum opening area. These means comprises a rod 55 whichextends laterally through the front piece 30. Each first side wallportion 31, 32 is provided with an elongate through opening 39 whichexhibits a number of adjustment slots (not denoted) arranged one afterthe other along the longitudinal direction of the elongate throughopening 39. The rod 55 may be inserted into the elongate throughopenings 39 and its end portions may be positioned into a desired pairof adjustments slots. The rod 55 may thereafter be fixed in theadjustment slots by fixing a securing sleeve (not shown) onto each endof the rod 55. The valve shutter 50 exhibits a number of adjustmentnotches 42 c formed in an edge of the valve member's 42 brackets 42 b,one after the other in the pivotal direction of the valve shutter 50.Depending on the adjustment position chosen for the rod 55 in theelongate through openings 39, only one notch 42 c at each bracket 42 bwill make contact with the rod 60 when the valve shutter 50 is pivotedin its opening direction. This contact between a notch 42 c and the rod55 blocks the valve shutter from further pivoting in the openingdirection and thereby defines the selected fully opening area of thevalve opening 44. Such easily accomplished adjustment of the maximumvalve opening area is very useful when the gravity feed dispenser is tobe used for bulk products having different particle sizes and density,and where it is necessary to adjust the dispensing flow rate.

The front piece 30 is easily releasably fixed to the body 20 bysnap-fitting. The body member 20 comprises a protruding hook 25 a whichextends rearwardly from a lower rear portion of the first chute portion25. The front piece 30 comprises a corresponding hollow collar 35 awhich extends rearwardly from the lower edge of the second chute portion35. A through opening 35 b is provided at the rear side of the collar.

The body member 20 further comprises laterally protruding first snap-fitmeans comprising bulges 21 a, 22 a arranged at the upper front edges ofside walls 21, 22. The front piece 30 comprises corresponding secondsnap-fit means 31 a, 32 a arranged at the upper rear edges of first sidewall portions 31, 32. In the shown example these second snap fit meanseach comprise a tongue which is insertable inside a respective bulge 21a, 22 a and a resilient hollow tab which is arranged to receive arespective bulge 21 a, 22 a by snap-fitting around the bulge.

The front piece 30, with the shutter valve 50 mounted (as describedabove) is very easily releasably fixed to the body 20. The upper end offront piece 30 is first tilted away from the body 20 and the lower endof the first chute portion 25 is introduced into the hollow collar 35 aof the front piece 30. Thereafter or simultaneously, the hook 25 a isinserted and engaged with the through opening 35 b in the collar 35 a.When so engaged the upper portion of the front piece 30 is pivotallytilted toward the body until the two tongues are inserted inside thebulges 21 a, 22 a and the hollow tabs snap around the periphery of thebulges 21 a, 22 a. By this means the front piece 30 is securely andreleasably fixed to the body member 20 at the same time as the shuttervalve 50, the valve seat member 41 and the seal 43 are locked inposition. When the front piece 30 has been mounted to the body member 20a friction sleeve (not shown) may be threaded onto hollow collar 35 a.The friction sleeve may assist in holding the mouth of a pouch, a bag orthe like when dispensing the bulk material from the gravity feeddispenser.

The holder 10 of the gravity feed dispenser may very easily becompletely disassembled simply by releasing the hollow tabs from thebulges 21 a, 22 a, pivoting the upper portion of the front piece awayfrom the body member 20 and thereafter releasing the hook 25 a from thethrough hole 35. When the front piece 30 has been detached, the shuttervalve 50 may be dismounted by first removing the elastic strings (notshown) and lifting out the shutter valve 50. Correspondingly the valveseat member 41 may easily be removed by disengaging snap means (notshown), pulling out the valve seat member 41 from the body 20 andthereafter removing the seal 43 from the valve seat member 41. If neededthe rod 55 may be easily be removed by releasing one fixation sleeve(not shown) and withdrawing the rod 55 from the opposite end.

Thus, by only a very few and simple manual operations, holder 10 may becompletely disassembled into its constituent parts whereby washing,flushing and other maintenance is greatly facilitated. Additionally, bysimply removing the front piece 30 and the valve seat member 41 from thebody member 20, the body becomes completely open in the forward andupward direction whereby all interior walls of the body member areeasily accessible for washing and flushing. The low number ofconstituent part also allows for that the assembled gravity feeddispenser exhibits only a low number of component joints, therebyreducing the risk of fine particles and dust to be caught and collectedin such joints.

The container 70 (best seen in FIGS. 3a-7b ) comprises a rigid orsemi-rigid box 72. Typically, the box 72 is formed of cardboard, plasticor other suitable material such that it, when filled with bulk products,is ridged enough to sustain stacking of several bag-in-boxes one op topof the other. For environment protection purposes, recyclable cardboardor other paper pulp based materials are preferred for forming the box.

As shown in FIGS. 3a-b the box 72 has a generally cuboid shape. Itcomprises two side walls 73 a, 73 b, a front wall 73 c, a rear wall 73d, a top wall 73 e and a bottom wall 73 f.

As best seen in FIG. 3b , the bottom wall 73 f exhibits a tearableportion 74 which is delimited by a first tear line 74 a. The tearableportion 74 extends over almost the entire bottom wall area. The tearline 74 a may be formed of perforated lines arranged in the box.Alternatively, the tear line 74 a may be formed of other lines ofweakness, such as lines of reduced material thickness or the like.

In the shown example, the tear portion 74 extend over the lower frontedge of the outer box 70, a short distance into the front wall 73 c. Arelease opening 76 is formed in the front wall 73 c, adjacent to thetear portion 74.

Use of the inventive gravity feed dispenser will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 3a -7 b.

When refilling the gravity feed dispenser, the previously used andemptied container is removed from the stationary holder 10. A newcontainer 70, filled with a bulk product is first prepared for openingby inserting a finger into the release opening 76 and tearing loose afront portion of the tear portion 74 as shown in FIG. 4a . Thereby, afront portion of the tearable portion 74 which extends over the frontwall 73 c, may be folded out to form a grip tab 74 b as shown in FIG. 4c. By this means the container 70 has been prepared for final openingafter mounting to the holder 10 of the gravity feed dispenser. The frontwall 73 c of the container 70 may comprise two layers of wall materialand the tearable portion 74 and tear line 74 a extending onto the frontwall 73 may the extend only through the outer layer. By this means, nothrough penetrating opening in the front is formed when the when thegrip tab 74 b has been released from the front wall 73 c.

As shown in FIG. 5a-b , the container 70 is thereafter inserted into theholder 10 by inserting a lower portion of the box 72 between the upperwall portions 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 33 c of the holder 10. Simultaneouslythe previously released grip tab 74 b is inserted through the slit 36 ofthe front piece 30. Thereafter and as shown in FIGS. 6a-b the bag-in-box70 is fully inserted into the holder 10, such that the bottom wall 73 fis supported by the horizontal flanges 28 a, 28 b and the side walls 73a, 73 b, the front wall 73 c and the rear wall 73 d of the outer box 72are supported by the upper wall portions 21 c, 22 c, 23 c, 33 c of theholder 10.

When the container 70 has been prepared for opening and mounted to theholder 10 as described above it may be opened to allow an initialportion of the bulk product to be poured into the interior space 16 ofthe holder 10. This is accomplished simply by grabbing the grip tab 74 bnow extending through the slit 36 of the front piece and thereafterpulling the grip tap 74 b. Since the grip tab 74 b forms part of thefirst tearable portion 74 of the box, pulling the grip tab 74 b willtear loose the entire tearable portion 74 from the box 72, therebycompletely opening the container and allowing the bulk product to bepoured by gravity into the interior space 16 of the holder 10.

When the tearable portion 74 has been removed through the slit 36, theslit 36 may be closed by attaching the lid 37 or by other closing meansfor preventing foreign particles or contamination to enter the interiorspace 16. If needed the slit or the closing means may be provided withadditional sealing means (not shown) for sealing the interior space 16from the surrounding atmosphere.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a fewembodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled inthe art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equallypossible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appendedpatent claims.

1. A gravity feed dispenser for dispensing bulk products from anexchangeable container with a tearable bottom portion, which gravityfeed dispenser comprises a stationary holder comprising a seat portionarranged to receive at least a lower portion of the exchangeablecontainer, an outlet opening for dispensing the bulk product and a valvearrangement which is arranged operatively between the seat portion andthe outlet opening, for selectively allowing and preventing outward flowof the bulk product from the exchangeable container through the outletopening characterized in that the seat portion comprises essentiallyvertically arranged opposed side wall portions, a rear wall portion anda front wall portion arranged to receive at least a lower portion of theexchangeable container when inserted from above and in that the frontwall portion of the seat portion exhibits a slit configured to allowremoval of said tearable bottom portion of the exchangeable containerthrough the slit.
 2. A gravity feed dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the stationary holder comprises a removable lid which, whenmounted to the holder, closes the slit.
 3. A gravity feed dispenseraccording to claim 2, wherein the lid is formed as a label holder.
 4. Agravity feed dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the lid and/orholder portion is/are provided with sealing means for sealing the slitwhen the lid is mounted.
 5. A gravity feed dispenser according to claim2, wherein the lid and the stationary holder are provided withcooperating snap-fit means for snap-fit mounting of the lid to thestationary holder.
 6. A gravity feed dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the stationary holder comprises a lower chute portion forconducting the outflow of the bulk product.
 7. A gravity feed dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a body member and afront piece, which body member is formed in one single piece andcomprises two opposing side walls, a rear wall and a forwardly slopingbottom wall and which front piece is removably attached to the bodymember and comprises a front wall.
 8. A gravity feed dispenser accordingto claim 1 wherein the valve arrangement comprises a pivotal valvemember and a maneuvering handle.
 9. A gravity feed dispenser accordingto claim 7, wherein the valve arrangement comprises a pivotal valvemember and a maneuvering handle, and wherein the handle is connected tothe valve member by two axles which are pivotally received in semicircular openings formed in the body member and the front piece.
 10. Agravity feed dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising anexchangeable container with a tearable bottom portion for storing a bulkproduct.
 11. A gravity feed dispenser according to claim 10, wherein thetearable portion is arranged at a bottom wall of the container when thecontainer is held by the stationary holder.
 12. A gravity feed dispenseraccording to claim 10, wherein the holder and the container are arrangedfor allowing the tearable portion to be removed from the box when it isheld by the holder.
 13. A gravity feed dispenser according to claim 10,wherein the tearable portion extends onto a front wall of the container.14. A gravity feed dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the tearableportion is delimited by a first tear line in the container.
 15. Agravity feed dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the exchangeablecontainer comprises a cardboard box.